A Job Interview That Ended in Tragedy
St. Louis, MO — What began as a hopeful day quickly spiraled into a parent’s worst nightmare. Shanice Moore left her 3-year-old son, Emmanuel Ware, in the care of her boyfriend, Timothy Robinson, while she went to a job interview on December 10, 2021. She expected to return with good news about securing a brighter future for her family.
Instead, she came home to find her son unconscious, bruised, and unresponsive. Robinson claimed Emmanuel had been hit by a car. Initially overwhelmed with shock and disbelief, Shanice called the police, praying his story was true and that help had arrived in time. But the truth unraveled quickly — and it was far more horrifying than she could have imagined.
A Mother’s Instinct and the Surveillance Footage That Exposed the Lies
When police arrived at the home on Rutger Street, they found the child not breathing, covered in bruises, and with visible signs of trauma. He was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to save him. His injuries didn’t match those of a traffic accident — they were consistent with blunt force trauma.
Robinson’s story began to fall apart. He claimed Emmanuel had been hit by a car near Park Avenue, but surveillance footage from the area showed no such incident. Investigators found no tire marks, no witnesses, and no physical evidence supporting his claims. Days later, Robinson was arrested on an unrelated robbery charge and brought in for questioning. Still, he insisted the boy had been struck by a vehicle.
An autopsy confirmed what everyone feared: Emmanuel had suffered internal injuries that could not have come from a collision. He had been beaten.
Justice Served, but the Pain Remains
On Monday, Timothy Robinson, now 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death. He also admitted to a violent robbery that occurred just days after Emmanuel’s death, where he attacked a woman exiting a Metro Bus and stole her purse.
As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors recommended an 18-year prison sentence for Emmanuel’s death and a concurrent 15-year sentence for the robbery. Judge Madeline O. Connolly accepted the deal, sparing the family the pain of a trial — but no legal outcome can erase the pain left behind.
Shanice Moore, grieving and heartbroken, struggles to process the loss of her only child. “I left to try and better our lives. I never thought it would be the last time I’d see him alive,” she said. “He was everything to me — his laugh, his hugs, his little voice.”
Emmanuel Ware’s life was brief but filled with love and light. His memory now lives on as a symbol of the innocence that should always be protected — and a heartbreaking reminder of what’s lost when trust is shattered.
🕯️ Rest in peace, sweet Emmanuel. Your story will never be forgotten.
